Catching Up With Elliot

From the beach it's just a short walk across the road to the Mooloolaba Marina  on the river.

There's a nice little chandlery here just next to the marina so we do our best to boost the local economy.  It's time to bin the old yellow sailing jacket that's served Robert so well, how about a nice new red Musto, perfect fit!  There's always a reason to shop so we keep ourselves busy through the day with a few lingering "to dos".  The walk into the shopping centre in Mooloolaba is a bit further than we thought so shopping will be limited by what we can schlep back.  

It's just on sunset and Elliot's calling to tell us he's at the marina.  Fantastic!  We put him straight to work running errands in the car.  There are no passengers on this boat, only crew and Elliot is expert.  Over dinner at a local fish 'n chips joint we catch up on all his latest news about his studies and uni life.  Life is good.

Tangalooma to Mooloolaba

Anchored off the wrecks, Tangalooma, Moreton Bay

At dawn a sense of adventure compensates for loss of sleep.  Daisie Dog is not so sure.

In the early light the buoys marking the swimming beach are obvious.  We can't afford much time lingering over coffee to congratulate ourselves on getting the hook down safely off the wrecks in the dark last night.  We are on our way to Mooloolaba.  Elliot is on his way from Townsville to Brisbane to pick up the car and some of his things from the house.  It's uni semester break and we're looking forward to cruising Queensland's Great Barrier Reef and The Whitsundays islands with him.

We've motored through the rain today with no wind to sail.  The sun is shining over Mooloolaba, seas are calm, as we approach the river bar.  It always feels good to arrive and this arrival is one of the easiest, as we quietly approach our slip at Mooloolaba Marina.  A friendly liveaboard takes our lines and we are in.  Mooloolaba feels good to us!

Moreton Bay Roll

Daisie can always be counted on to lend a helping hand.

The last few months have been a blur of boat activity, home responsibilities, car purchasing, and hours driving back and forth on the Brisbane to Gold Coast Motorway. Balancing the needs of a boat and the demands of a rural property can bring on a case of split personalities.

Tonight we are anchored off the wrecks at Tangalooma, Moreton Island. We dropped the hook in the dark. A sigh of relief, we made it. After four and a half years of service as an "apartment", Bristol Rose is free to sail again.

During the rainy night we are reminded of some of the worst (most rolly/uncomfortable) anchorages we've experienced. Sleep comes in short shifts.

Manly Where?

Manly Boat Harbour, Moreton Bay, Queensland

Mention Manly in Australia and most people think of Manly Beach in Sydney.  With the added attraction of the "must do" ferry ride to the beach from the heart of the city, Manly attracts loads of tourists and Sydney-siders daily. 

When we lived close to the Harbour in Sydney I was able to walk a short distance to the wharf each morning for a spectacular ferry ride to Circular Quay and my work in the city.  What a great way to start the day!  I knew well how very lucky I was living in such a beautiful location.  That was years ago.  Now we are in Queensland.

For three years Manly, Moreton Bay, Brisbane has been home for Bristol Rose where she is tied to the slip at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.

Manly Boat Harbour is home to RQYS and another couple of marinas. It's said to be the largest man-made marina on Australia's east coast with 1,800 water craft of various shapes, sizes and type.  Waking up on the water, what a great way to start the day!

Manly, a bayside suburb on the southeast side of Brisbane, has a village atmosphere, train station to take you to the city, markets on the weekends, restaurants, supermarket, pub, a boardwalk around the water's edge that goes for miles, and so much more.  I love that saying, "you make your own luck".  It's mostly about choices because that's all we really have any control over.

Cruisers thinking of stopping in at Manly Boat Harbour in Queensland should check   Noonsite.com   for all the info and links you'll need.

RQYS hosts WAGS (Wednesday Afternoons Go Sailing) from the clubhouse, Manly, Moreton Bay, Queensland

Keeping Hope Alive for Nina's Crew

It’s been a tough year in cruising circles with the loss of three truly amazing and talented cruisers that we know, Alex Rust s/v Bubbles, Steve Southwood s/v Dignity, and Evi Nemeth who left her boat s/v Wonderland to crew aboard the missing s/v Nina.

Evi (aged 73) with a PhD in Mathematics 1971, is described as the Godmother of Unix Administration.  A wiki  search gives you a wealth of information about Evi Nemeth.  We simply knew Evi as the skilled sailor of her beloved Wonderland.  In the Marquesas we spent a day with Evi exploring historical sites.  Her adventurous spirit and broad knowledge were very evident.

She was part of the seven-person crew aboard the 21-metre 1928 vintage wooden schooner, Nina, for the crossing from New Zealand to Newcastle on the NSW coast.  They were last heard from on June 4, 2013 when Evi sent a message that they were experiencing severe weather conditions and overnight their sails were shredded.  

Evi along with the owners David and Rosemary Dyche and their 17 year old son David, and 3 others are missing, presumed lost at sea.  The families and friends have not given up hope and continue to scan satellite images for any signs.  I've just read an article in Mail Online about an image taken September 15 that has given them some new hope.  Reflecting upon incredible survival stories we've all heard of, let's keep hope alive.

A Dignified Life

Once again we have sad news to share about fellow cruisers.  Our dear friend Steve has lost his brave battle with a very rare form of lymphoma.

We were introduced to Steve and Helen by Matt and Karen aboard S/V Where II in Bequia in the Caribbean.  We crossed paths many times.  An amazing team, we described them as the most adventurous couple we know.  Steve blogged their adventures every day.  S/V Dignity

The past year has no doubt been the most difficult challenge.  Steve and Helen both showed great dignity and courage throughout.  Steve will be greatly missed.  Our deepest sympathies are with Helen and their boys.

File on Bristol Rose... Support Anywhere in the World.

A sailor has to really love and trust his or her boat to cast off the lines and head out on the open ocean.  We love our Shannon 43. Oh you've noticed?  Fellow boat owner, I know you also love your boat. Anyone thinking of buying a sailboat, a Shannon in particular, stick with me.

We need to replace a couple of small parts on Bristol Rose.  That can be tricky when your boat is in a remote location.  Online purchases are easy enough but shipping costs can be prohibitive, even from state to state.

BR was built in 2002 and many of the people who built her are still with Shannon Yachts in Rhode Island, that's cool!  We benefit from their record keeping and also the records kept by her first owners during the semi-custom build.  If we're stumped it only takes a call or email to get the info we need.

This week I'm visiting the USA and did just that.  I'd like to find a perfect match for a broken pelican hook for the safety line.  I got contact info for Bay Sailing Equipment in Massachusetts. Christine responded to my email, "you didn't give me the hull number".  No problem, "yep, I have a whole file on hull #51, anything else you need?" she says.  Now that is cool!

Walt Shultz, Bill Ramos and team at Shannon, and their suppliers, have come through for us on more than one occasion in some exotic and remote locations between Rhode Is. and Australia.  That's just one reason we really love our Shannon!  If you're thinking of shelling out the big bucks for a sailboat, it pays to buy a boat with this kind of support, priceless!

Cherished Memories of Alex Rust, S/V Bubbles. R.I.P.

Happy memories, Alex (26) and Elliot (21) celebrate their birthdays with a dock party in Tahiti, June 2010

The World Cruising community has lost one of it's most colourful, magnetic personalities.

This morning we heard terribly sad news from Alex Rust's mother Sylvia.  Alex, S/V Bubbles, was found dead in his sleep May 28th in a guesthouse in the Hindu Varanasi region of Northern India.

Alex was more than a cruiser and world adventurer.  It will be up to those closest to him to tell his life story as Alex was never one to talk about himself and his good deeds.  I'm sure we will hear more of his giving nature following his untimely death.

The Rust family has announced memorial services on what would have been Alex's 29th birthday, June 14 2013 in his hometown of Seymour, Indiana.  June 15 marks the one year anniversary of Alex's homecoming following his circumnavigation of the globe.

Robert, Owen, Elliot and I are just some of the many, many people who shared amazing adventures with Captain Alex and his brother Joe.   Our sympathies go to Alex's family and his close friends.  May he rest in peace.